Thiem has lost just 10 first serve points in his last two matches and has been broken just three times this tournament overall.

Nadal began the match brilliantly and took the first set 6-4.

But Djokovic has shown his toughness in Paris and he has navigated a tricky draw of accomplished clay-courters-Marcel Granollers, Joao Sousa, Diego Schwartzman and Ramos-Vinolas-and passed every test, including coming back from two sets to one to defeat Diego Schwartzman in the third round. Many will say that the comprehensive nature of Djokovic's win is an obvious indication that Thiem can not win at the French Open.

Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori barely survived Korean Hyong Chung, advancing 7-5 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 0-6 6-4. After not playing past year, they could resume their rivalry if they can get through each quarterfinal.

Nishikori recovered to beat Hyeon Chung, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 0-6, 6-4; Monfils was leading 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-3 against Richard Gasquet when his countryman retired after getting treatment on his right thigh.

The only player to have beaten Nadal on clay this season is Austrian Dominic Thiem - who was playing Argentine Horacio Zeballos later. "I see a lot of good things in it".

Kristina Mladenovic ensured France will have a woman in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1994 after dumping out 4th seed Muguruza 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Thiem has never beaten Djokovic in five previous meetings, with the Serbian also beating the No.6 seed in the French Open past year, when Thiem had no answer in a straight set loss in the semifinals. It's a rematch of their semifinal a year ago, when Djokovic defeated Thiem in straight sets.

Muguruza won only 15 points in the first set and, although she rallied to take it to a third, could not match French 13th seed Mladenovic. He targets his 11 French Open quarter-final to tie with Federer as he bids for his 31 Grand Slam quarter-final, chasing down Ivan Lendl's 34 appearances.